Barbeque spit structure



p 1950 J. M. HUNTINGTON 2,521,220

BARBECUE SPIT STRUCTURE Filed June 27, 1949 /RMES l/l. HUNT/N670,

INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 1950.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BARBEQUE SPIT STRUCTURE James M. Huntington,La Canada, Calif.

Application June 27, 1949, Serial No. 101,530

1 Claim.

This invention relates to barbecue equipment and particularly pertainsto a barbecue spit structure.

For the last few years it has been usual to employ portable barbecueequipment for outside service. More recently masonry barbecues have beenbuilt and used. These, for the most part, are fitted with suitable meansfor supporting one or more barbecue spits. In view of the varying sizesand designs it is desirable to provide a spit support which may beeasily placed in operative position or removed, and which may be easilyadapted to be seated over the firebox of barbecue equipment regardlessof its shape or size.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a frame structurewhich is collapsible and which is designed to accommodate one or morespits.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in plan showing the construction of the frame and itsapplication to an opening over a barbecue firebox.

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation showing the 'apron structure by whicha portion of the firebox opening may be closed.

Fig. 3 is a view in plan showing the frame structure as being folded.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, It indicates a rear uprightframe element, and l I indicates a front angle-shaped frame element. Theelements I9 and II are articulately connected at their ends by rods I2and I3. These rods are preferably formed with a straight portion andupwardly extending bent portions I4 by which the frame elements It] andII are hinged together and the structure may be allowed to collapse inthe manner indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The frame members ID and I I are formed near their opposite ends withloops I5 which are struck outwardly from the metal and provide openingsfrom which removable rods I6 may be held. These rods may be of anydesired length and will span the opening over the firebox of a barbecue.The rear frame portion II), as previously stated, forms an upwardlyextending section, the upper edge of this section is formed with aplurality of notches IT. The forward frame member II has a horizontalapron portion I8 and a vertical portion I9. The vertical portion I9 isformed with notches 20 agreeing in alignment with the notches ll of therear portion I0 when the structure is unfolded. The notches arepreferably square and receive squared lengths 2| of spits 22. Thesespits are fitted with handles 23 which are shielded from the fire by theapron I8 and when the spit is raised out of a notch it may be rotatedand then replaced in the notches so that articles being cooked on thespit may be held firmly in their rotative position. This insures thatthe article to be cooked may be easily turned and positioned to bestcooking advantage with relation to the fire.

In operation of the present invention the structure is first assembledby connecting the front and rear sections I9 and II through the mediumof the rods I2 and I3. The pivots It make it possible for the framesections I0 and I I to shift laterally with relation to each other andto move toward each other in a collapsed position. After the framestructure has been unfolded the supporting rods I6 may be insertedthrough the members i5 so that the unfolded frame structure may bedisposed to rest upon the barbecue and will be supported over the fire.A desired number of spits 22 may then be placed in position in thenotches I1 and 20 of the rear and front frame sections ill and II. Whenthe device is not required the spits 22 are removed and this will allowthe frame members l0 and II to be in relative shifting movement towardeach other as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The frame structuremay then be collapsed and will occupy a relatively small space so thatit can be packed easily or easily transported from place to place.

It will thus be seen that the spit frame structure here disclosed issimple in its construction, is decidedly economical as to material andmanufacturing costs, and that the device may be easily folded orunfolded and adapted for use over a barbecue fire opening of anydimensions or size. While I have shown the preferred form of myinvention as now known to me, it will be understood that various changesmay be made in combination, construction and arrangement of parts bythose skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of theinvention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

A foldable barbecue spit frame structure comprising a rear verticalplate, a front plate of angle section having a vertical portionextending in a plane parallel to the plane of the rear vertical plate, ahorizontal apron portion at an angle thereto, tubular bearing membersextending vertically and carried at the ends of the front and rear framesections, connecting rods formed with end portions bent to extend intosaid tubular bearing members whereby the front and rear frame sectionsmay be disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other or may bemoved to a folded position with the vertical portions of the framesections substantially against each other, notches formed in the upperedges of each of said frame sections, a spit adapted to seat Withincorresponding notches in the two frame sections, tubular bearing memberscarried by the front and rear frame sections and extending horizontally,with the openings of 'the bearing members on each frame section being inlongitudinal alignment, and supporting rods designed to be insertedthrough said longitudinally aligned bearing members on said framesectionsto pro.-

vide a support for the entire frame structure'over 1 a firebox opening.

JAMES M I-IUN'IINGTQN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 311,662 Knight Feb. 3, 18851,677,880 Averill July 24, 1928 1,888,616 Bocchino Nov. 22, 19322,225,861 Dufour Dec. 24, 1940 2,349,617 Gorman May'23, 1944 2,421,922Bocchino June 10, 1947 2,469,698 Morgan May 10, 1949

